Animals in idioms

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Click on an animal

Can you guess what these idioms mean?

Idioms using birds

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6 7 8 9 10

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Free as a bird

I have freedom

“I am as free as a bird”

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Bird's eye view

To look from above

“the TV camera has a bird’s eye view of the tennis match”

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Eat like a bird

To eat only a little

“my sister eats like a bird”

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For the birds

I don’t like to fly

“flying in planes is so dangerous it’s for the birds”

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The early bird catches the worm

The first person to arrive will be rewarded

“if you want to get the best product from a store, remember the early bird catches the worm

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A little bird told me

A rumour

“a little bird told me you have a new girlfriend”

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Birds of a feather flock together

People who are similar always become friends

“in our school people don’t mix, birds of a feather flock together”

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A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush

At least you have something

“I only got one and I didn’t win the other”

“a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush”

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Kill two birds with one stone

To get two jobs done by doing one thing

“I need to go to buy something from the shop and take the dog for a walk, it will kill two birds with one stone”

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Go the way of the dodo

To die / to become extinct

“the old man has gone the way of the dodo”

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1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

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Idioms using cats

Nine lives of a cat

You are very lucky

“that bus almost hit you, you must have nine lives”

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When the cat's away, the mice will play

To get into mischief when the boss / parent is out

“people at my work are irresponsible, they only do their work when the boss is watching, when the cat’s away, the mice will play”

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More than one way to skin a cat

There are so many ways to do something

“you don’t have to do it that way, there is more than one way to skin a cat”

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Fight like cats and dogs

They don’t get along very well

“don’t let those two be in the same room together, they fight like cats and dogs”

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Curiosity kills the cat

If you don’t mind your own business, you will get into trouble

“be careful, curiosity killed the cat”

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No room to swing a cat

Not enough room

“this room is so small you couldn’t swing a cat”

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Raining cats and dogs

it is raining very heavy

“it’s so wet outside, it’s raining cats and dogs”

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Has the cat got your tongue

Why are you quiet?

“you are not answering my question, has the cat got your tongue?”

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Look like something the cat dragged in

You are messy and dirty from being outside

“you have been outside in the rain, and now you look like something the cat dragged in”

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Looked like the cat that ate the canary

You look guilty

“did you do something wrong, because you look like the cat that ate the canary”

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1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

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Idioms using dogs

You can't teach an old dog new tricks

Too old to learn

“these computers are too hard for me, I guess you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”

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A dog and pony show

A very entertaining presentation

“the sales people put on a dog and pony show, and we bought the product”

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Love me, love my dog

You must love everything about me

“love me, love my dog, or I will leave you”

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In the doghouse

In trouble with the wife

“I forget my wife’s birthday and now I am in the doghouse”

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A barking dog never bites

Just because he says he will beat you up doesn’t mean he will

“don’t be afraid of him, his bark is worst than his bite”

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Dog eat dog

Very competitive

“you have to be very strong, it’s a dog eat dog world”

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Dog tired

Extremely tired

“after working a long day I am dog tired”

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Treat somebody like a dog

To be cruel

“he treats me like a dog”

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Every dog has its day

Everybody has a special day

“know matter who you are, every dog has its day”

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Work like a dog

To work very hard

“today my boss made me work like a dog”

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1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

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Idioms using fish

Fishing in troubled waters

Take advantage of a confused situation

“with all the confusion going on, it is a chance for us to succeed, we’re fishing in troubled waters”

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A whale of a time

A fun time

“we had a whale of a time at his party last night”

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The world is his oyster

You have a lot of opportunities

“you can do anything you like, the world is your oyster”

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Fishing for a compliment

Trying to get other people to give you a compliment

“the only reason why you are asking is because you’re fishing for a compliment”

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Fish out of the water

Uncomfortable about what they’re doing

“doing this job I feel like a fish out of water”

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Other fish to fry

Other matters requiring attention

“it is not just this one we have to worry about, we have other fish to fry”

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Packed like sardines

Crowded

“the bus was packed like sardines”

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Swim like a fish

Swim very fast

“he swam like a fish”

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Not the only fish in the sea

Not the only girl or boy to date

“I think she doesn’t like me”

“don’t worry, she is not the only fish in the sea”

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Drink like a fish

Drinks a lot

“he drinks like a fish”

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1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

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Idioms using horses

You can take a horse to the water but you can't make it drink

You can advise someone, but you can’t force them to do it

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Eat like a horse

Eats a lot

“he eats like a horse”

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Flog a dead horse

Trying to convince someone to do something, but there is no hope of succeeding

“he was trying to convince me to jump off the bridge, but he was just flogging a dead horse”

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Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Don’t ask someone how much the present they gave you cost

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Hold one's horses

Be patient

“hold your horses, I am coming”

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Get on one's high horse

Arrogant and not willing to compromise

“he is very hard to work with, he will get on his high horse”

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Straight from the horse's mouth

Information directly from an expert

“I know that smoking is bad for you, I got it straight from the horse’s mouth”

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Eat a horse

Very hungry

“I am so hungry I could eat a horse”

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Horse around

To play carelessly

“don’t horse around, or someone will get hurt”

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Back the wrong horse

To support a losing team

“My team is terrible, I backed the wrong horse”

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